giveaway!

Hello Everyone!  I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween!  My costume was this:  What was yours??

I look so mean! someone who speaks Russian recognized what my badge said, and he I was nervous he would be mad
but he wasn't.  Phew!

So, I worked both days this weekend, which wasn't actually that bad.  I didn't want to work in the mornings, because that meant no bike rides.  But, I made do, I just rode my bike by myself on saturday.  Not as fun, for sure, but still got my ride in so I was happy.

Then yesterday, Halloween, I met Annie at Cartel Coffee Lab!  Once again, I had an amazing time!  Seriously, bloggers are awesome (in the real world too!)  The coffee was good too, it was my first time at Cartel, and I loved the atmosphere, and commitment to quality!

And Dana from Happiness is Within is having a giveaway!  I just found her blog and I can't believe I just now found it!  It is great, and you should definitely check it out if you aren't a reader yet :)  She is giving away the book Beautiful You: A Guide to Radical Self-acceptance.  From her review it looks like a great book!  Be sure to enter, you don't want to miss out!

Today was decent for a monday... School was so-so, and we had to run errands afterwards.  I got to text with a friend a lot though, so that was fun :)

I hope you all had a good start to an even better week!

Scott

CoFFeE!!!

Hey hey!  It has been an awesome week for me, and I hope it has been for all of you as well :)  A lot of my week had to do with coffee...  I think it is just SO cool that I can get paid to be around other coffee geeks like myself!  I love it :)

On Wednesday, I went to see Mitch at the roastery.  Basically, this is where he decides what each bean should be roasted like, to get the best flavors out of each coffee.  He is very knowledgeable, and I had a great time.  We cupped some coffees (the coffee version of a wine tasting you could say) and I think it really helped develop my pallet!  I find it so so hard to taste those minute taste details that you hear described, but I think that this cupping helped me recognize them more.  I can't wait to do it again!  My favorite coffee of the day was the Ethiopian Nekisse.  It was simply superb!  It didn't even taste like coffee, it smelled like black tea, then when brewed it was an intense blueberry flavor with some black tea hints and just super sweet and balanced.  It. Was. To. Die. For!  I can't wait to have it again when our new store opens!  (funny note too:  this coffee was sold at Cafe Grumpy for $12 a cup!  I feel lucky to have tried it!)  I also learned that we are getting this kick ass espresso machine for our new store!!!  I won't bore you with details, but basically it is top of the line and there are only 10 in the US!

(c)

Then thursday we had coffee training, which was basically coffee history and knowledge class.  Very interesting, I learned a lot of new things.  And of course drank some delicious coffee ;)

Then friday and today I worked!  It was SO slow both days :/  It makes the shift go SO slow don't you agree??  I got to leave early today cause we were SO dead, so I went on a bike ride :)  It was nice, but windy.

Have a great Halloween! I am working tomorrow, and we are all going to dress up as communist dictators, so I am going to be Stalin ;)  Kinda weird I know, but the shift lead working tomorrow is a history buff, and he wanted to so I was like, why not.  I will share pictures ;)

Scott

First day on the job!

Yep, that's right!  Yesterday was my first day working at Press Coffee!!

Nope, I didn't pour this, but it's pretty right?? (C) Press CFW

So, it was great!  It feels good to finally get working after this long long process!  I learned a LOT on my first day!  I learned how to clean mostly, and clean I did!  A lot of things need cleaning that you wouldn't even think of!  I also learned how to take orders, brew coffee, etc.  It is hard work, but everyone is so nice, and I just enjoy being there!  My goal is to work my way up to being able to work on the espresso machine! 

Tomorrow, I am leaving for my cousin's wedding in Sedona!  I have never been there, but everyone says how beautiful it is, so I think it will be good.  I am not excited about missing my bike ride saturday morning, but I am going to running in Sedona, and i hope to have some beautiful sights!

Well, that is pretty much all I have for you, I made a few interesting food items, but I will put those in another post.  

I hope that you are all having weeks that are just as Beautiful as you are!

Scott

Sunday 10.10.2010

Hello all my fellow bloggers!  I hope you are all having a fantastic weekend!

I was pretty busy this week, but I have some GREAT news!  It looks like I got the job at Press Coffee!!  I got a call on Monday about availability, and I am scheduled to come in on Wednesday for training and my first shift!  I am beyond excited =D  

And yesterday was quite an amazing day as well!  I went on a bike ride with my team, then I met my dad at this grocery store/cafe called AJ's where he stopped after his ride.  I got a Fage Greek yogurt with peach on the side.  Haven't had one of these in a while, but they were so so good!  We also worked around the house quite a bit, putting hardware on cabinets, and a lot of other stuff.  Common theme huh? ;)  Then we went to Bicycle Haus to find out about ordering a team bike for next year, as well as get me some shoes because I am was in desperate need for them!  So long story short, I love the Bicycle Haus, and I got a great deal on some shoes and ordered a bike for the upcoming season!  I am excited because it is going to be the first new bike I have ever had! (except for my first ever road bike...)  It is pretty awesome, here is a picture of what it will look like!

So I am really excited to get it!  It is supposed to come in around the end of the month...

Then I made cajun salmon last night, which I didn't picture because it looked terrible :( It tasted good, but  I cooked the skin side down first, and it made the other side look absolutely terrible :/  At least it tasted good though I guess...

Then today I went on a ride with my dad, which was really nice!  The weather was absolutely beautiful both days this weekend!  Now I really know why people love it here so much!  I won't have any trouble getting used to this ;)  On our way home from the ride we stopped by this bakery I had seen, but never been to, called Gallileo.  Anyone local should for sure try it, it is at the corner of Hayden and Mountain View, in a little shopping center.  I got some amazing bread there!!!  Seriously, it makes me want to start baking again, and it reminded me so much of the great bread in Germany!!  Here is a snap shot...

so, I ate some of that right there, and put the rest in my pocket to take home :p

Then I found this video of somebody who put a Hayabusa motorcycle engine in a smart car :p

I WANT!!!  I know I am a car geek, but don't you think this is cool!?!

Then today included a nice nap, some more work on the house, and a bit of blogging :)  Pretty good weekend I think!  Nice and relaxing :)

I hope you all had a fantastic weekend and got some great relaxation and are prepared for a wonderful week ahead of you :)

Have a great Monday!

Scott

Interview!!!! =D

Today was my interview at Press Coffee!!!!  It was my first interview ever, so I was a bit nervous.  I think it went pretty well, I had my resume and everything ;)  They basically just asked how I would deal with a customer who is dissatisfied, and other customer service things.  And of course told me that there is more than just coffee making there, I would have to clean, and wash dishes and stuff too, and work my way up so to speak.  But, I am SO SO excited to find out if I got the job!! Enough of that for now, I will have to just let you all know when I know!

But, on that same note, I have a picture of the best espresso I have made on the new machine as of yet!  Here is a pic :)

Pretty darn good if I do say so myself!

Oh, and I saw this AMAZING video on Arielle's blog the other day!  If you don't read her blog, you really should because it is fantastic :)  Tons of advice on recovery and body image and just some great stuff.  I guess you could call it a vlog though, cause it is video based...  Anyway, here is the video I saw on her blog.  It is by a British campaign against negative body image.  I think the video could mean different things to different people, but for me I saw it as a lot of people who have recovered from an ED bad mouthing ED for all it has done against them.  It is a very powerful video, and I hope you enjoy it!!  What do you get out of it??

Well, that is pretty much it for today, I don't have much more news!  I may talk to you before then, but on Thursday I get to go to the allergist all day long to see what I am allergic to now that I am here in Phoenix.  That means skin tests, allergic reactions, lung capacity tests, and just oodles of fun!  But I get to miss school so..... wish me luck!

Have a great week!

Scott

Making Progress!

So, I have been brutally reminded that the moving process is in fact a very slow one!  But, progress is being made, as is evidenced by the HUGE number of broken down boxes on our front porch!





So, that has been moving along slowly, and in the meantime, I have been enjoying my car!  I posted pictures before, but none of me in my car, so here are some my mom took yesterday :)
 
 

I also enjoyed this Jar of goodness on Tuesday morning:


There is something else mixed in, but who really cares? Oats+Almond butter=Delicious!  Put it IN the jar of almond butter, and it is out of this world! OIAJ!! Although with it comes the tragedy of another jar of nut butter gone ;)

So, school this week was pretty good :)  Spirit week is always entertaining ;)  I didn't dress up at all, mainly because most all of my clothes are packed away still (at least the ones that are dress up worthy).  So, I just watched, but it was quite funny :)

I'll keep this post short and sweet because nothing else really happened! I'm going to leave you with a fortune cookie fortune I got today with dinner.  I think it is perfect for anyone with an ED, or with any self image issues at all!  Check it out:

SO true :)

So, learn to befriend yourself, because you are all such amazing people!  Have a great weekend :)

Sending my best,

Scott

Wash out

So, my plans for a ride outdoors this morning were washed out by the rain :/ My parents went, but I figured I might as well ride in the basement instead...

I hate it how whenever I make a decision to do anything, I am constantly thinking about how the other decision would have been better. Today, I wish I had gone with my parents riding, but I know that if I did, I would be miserable and wish I had stayed here. I don't know, I guess I am just a really indecisive person.

So I rode the bike in the basement, and felt ok, but stopped after about a half an hour because I was tired. Recently, I have not had to deal with ED's condescending voice, but today he came back shouting :( I felt so awful for not being able to ride for longer. I felt like since I had an easier workout yesterday, so I should be able to go harder today. It seems as though once ED gets a word out and I hear it, he just won't shut up! Then I kept feeling like I have gained too much weight and bla bla bla... I resisted the temptation to step on the scale when I went up stairs to get a shower, and had a nice snack of an Asian pair with some cereal and nuts instead :)

Then I sat down with a nice macchiatto with coffee roasted by my dad (thanks dad!) and read all of your wonderful posts and now I feel so much better :D *thanks everybody*

My macchiatto, isn't it pretty?

So that's about it for this morning, no interesting oats so I kinda miss that :( maybe for lunch? And I am going to small group for church today so I can't wait!

Have a great Sunday!

Scott

Saturday :)

Hope you are all having a nice Saturday evening :]

So, this afternoon, I helped my dad with replacing the hoses on our car. We had planned on going on a ride, but the snow ruled that out :/

So the car took way longer than I expected, and before I knew it I had to go up to church to work at the cafe. I arrived and saw to my surprise, a new grinder! :D A brand new mazzer luigi, Love <3

The best espresso I have made at the cafe to date!

So that was my big surprise of the day, and it was good for me :)

Then the church service was amazing. I know it's probably annoying that I say this all the time, but I have recently just loved the services and I feel like I am learning so much!

Tonight was focused on 2 Samuel 22. It talks about how david had so much faith, even in

times of struggle. Our pastor talked about how we can learn to embrace God, even

when it feels like he is nowhere to be found in our lives. I will try to get the audio file and

post it, because it was so insightful, and i think it would help anyone struggling with anything

in their lives.

So tomorrow, I plan on riding my bike outside :0 I hope I can remember how ;] I will let you know

Have a wonderful saturday night!

Scott